Sources consulted during the development of the DOE’s guide agreed that proper planning before the commencement of any retrofit activity is one of the keys to a successful case retrofit project.
The first step in planning a retrofit project should be the documentation of existing as-built characteristics. This will be imperative in providing inputs to required design analyses, as well as in cataloging changes to the system during and after the retrofit installation. The contractor supervising the project should review existing drawings in order to gauge the impact on the installed equipment. A survey of the refrigeration system should be taken, including the compressor rack, controls, expansion valves, piping, and condensers, to quantify the existing condition of the equipment and any differences between the as-built layout and the original system designer’s plans. Moreover, the condition of the display cases and refrigeration system should be evaluated. If equipment is approaching the end of its service lifetime or is in poor condition, the contractor may advise complete replacement of the equipment.